The 100 Most Powerful Women

#39 Lynn Laverty Elsenhans

Sunoco shares have tumbled 52% this year but began to climb in July following Elsenhans' taking over the chief executive spot. Formerly the executive vice president of global manufacturing for Royal Dutch Shell, Elsenhans is the second woman to head a major oil company, no small feat since women make up only 21% of the overall workforce in the refining industry. A college basketball player at Rice, Elsenhans remains a sports enthusiast, sitting on the boards of the World Golf Foundation and the First Tee. She is also a director of International Paper. — Kate Macmillan

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Published sources include Factiva, CIA factbook, State Department, country embassies, European Union website, U.S. Security and Exchange Commission filings, press releases, company websites and annual reports.